LONDON -- Nexans - the worldwide leader in the cable industry* - has appointed AT&T as its global communications provider in a three-year deal with an option to extend the period to up to 5 years. AT&T is supporting the company with the provision of a global IP based virtual private network (IP VPN) to provide connectivity to Nexans 17,000 employees in 28 countries through the use of the AT&T Global Network (AGN).

The Nexans wide area network (WAN) uses the latest multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) technology from AT&T, which enables the cable manufacturer to prioritise the types of data traffic using its infrastructure using ‘class of service’ features. This means for example, that high priority business-wide enterprise applications such as ERP can take priority over other data such as Internet or electronic mail.

117 Nexans sites worldwide are connected to the network with 7,500 Internet users. 1000 mobile users and 400 broadband high-speed connections are supported with AT&T remote access technology, including managed ADSL access.

The AT&T solution is underpinned by the AGN, AT&T’s worldwide communications infrastructure in which the company has invested in significantly during 2002 and 2003 (including $300m in 2002 alone). The AGN is currently available over 47 countries and in over 130 cities outside the United States. AT&T’s remote access service is available in 143 countries through 4,300 points-of-presence.

“As a newly independent company, but one of considerable size and operating internationally, we had a demanding specification” said Yves Trézières, CIO for Nexans. “We had to have a supplier that could act quickly and manage a complex multi-site migration in 28 countries, to a tight deadline and deliver a truly global, flexible and integrated network. For Nexans, our communications infrastructure is a strategic asset and a vital tool to ensuring we operate at optimum levels of efficiency. AT&T with its global reach and industry-leading infrastructure was the ideal partner to meet our needs. They were able to deliver a better network which significantly reduced our costs, an important priority in today’s competitive environment.”

“Nexans was a challenging opportunity” commented Bill Archer, AT&T’s President for Europe, the Middle East & Africa, “but one that we were more than able and equipped to meet. Our robust product portfolio, global reach and ability to execute rapidly to meet Nexans needs were the keys to our success.”

Nexans

AT&T Global Network Services